Lesson Three: Introduction to the Architectural Styles in St. Petersburg
Overview of Lesson: Students will define the basic terms needed to understand the
architecture of St. Petersburg and its relationship to the history of the city.
Objectives:
1. Students will define the various styles of architecture that have influenced
Russian architecture and give examples of buildings in St. Petersburg for each
style.
2. Students will explain the relationship of Russian architecture and the significance
of icons to the Russian Orthodox Church.
3. Students will analyze the relationship between St. Petersburg’s architecture and
her history.
Focus Questions:
1. What are the styles that have influenced the architecture of St. Petersburg, and
why were buildings there built in these styles?
2. How was St. Petersburg’s architecture different from Moscow, and why was it
different?
3. How were Orthodox beliefs expressed in architecture?
4. How would you explain the relationship between its architecture and the history
of St. Petersburg?
Resources/Materials:
- Five stations set up around the classroom – each station should have a poster
board or large sheet of paper with the top sheet labeled with one of the following
terms (in this order): Byzantine (include icons) Style
Moscow (or National or Traditional Russian) Style
Baroque Style
Rococo Style
Neo-classical Style
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assorted colors of markers
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Dictionaries or definitions from http://www.artlex.com
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Art history and Russian history sources (for Moscow Style, may need
description from Land of the Firebird or www.geographia.com)
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Access to St. Petersburg in Architecture website from the University of
Michigan (http://www.umich.edu/stpetersburg/ - click on “map index), or
teacher can print out building descriptions from map ahead of time to have
available for students to use.
Procedures/Activities:
1. Put definition of “architecture” on chalkboard (from artlex.com) – “the art of
designing and constructing buildings (structures) and other environmental
features.”
2. Assign students to five groups and send them to the five stations around the room.
Tell them they will be examining how its architecture has influenced the history
of St. Petersburg through looking at the various styles used there. Have the
specific tasks of the groups written on the chalkboard or overhead:
Use the dictionaries and other resources to define and describe these styles
in architecture, although you may explain how they are depicted in the
other arts as well. Be sure to describe when, where, and in what type of
buildings this style was used. Write this information on your posterboard.
Draw a picture illustrating your style.
Find two examples of buildings in St. Petersburg built in your style. What
kinds of buildings are they?
3. When students are finished, have them share their posters with each other,
explaining their definitions, pictures, and examples. You can then hang them
around the room for future reference, or have students take notes from them. Ask
students why they think these styles were used in St. Petersburg. What makes its
architecture unique? How does the architecture relate to history? To religion?
Evaluation/Assessment:
1. Students may be graded on their posters based on group participation, definitions,
examples, explanations, and creativity.
2. Students may be assigned to write a paragraph describing the relationship
between history and architecture and/or between Orthodoxy and architecture in
Russia and St. Petersburg, using specific examples of buildings.
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